Fitch defensive lineman Billy Price has been named the Division I Defensive Player of the Year after leading Fitch to the playoffs and a 9-2 overall finish. Price is verbally committed to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Warren Harding running back LeShun Daniels also earns first team honors as a running back. Daniels rushed for over 14-hundred yards in helping lead the Raiders to the postseason. Daniels is verbally committed to play for the Boston College Eagles.
Fellow Raiders standout Jayln Powell also earned first team honors for his work as defensive back. Powell is verbally committed to play for the Michigan State Spartans.
Below is the complete list of All-Ohio selections in Division I.
The 2012 Associated Press Division I All-Ohio high school football team, based on the recommendations of a state media panel:
cont...
Elyria defensive end and future Ohio State Buckeye Tracy Sprinkle continues to add to his postseason accolades after the Associated Press named him the 2012 Division I Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
He was named the D-I Northeast Ohio All-Lake District Defensive Player of the Year and won the Lorain County Golden Helmet award earlier this month.
“It’s another great accolade in my life,” Sprinkle said. “Right after I heard it, I said a prayer just thanking God, thanking him for all of his blessings. It feels wonderful.”
Sprinkle, one of the stars of a Pioneers team finished 7-3 this season, shared the award with Cincinnati Moeller’s Shane Jones and Austintown Fitch’s Billy Price, who will also go to OSU along with Sprinkle.
“That’s a great thing knowing we’ve got some top guys in Ohio going down to Columbus,” Sprinkle said. “I feel we can get down there and get after it early.”
Sprinkle had 19 sacks and 103 tackles as a senior. He will enroll at Ohio State in January.
Joining Sprinkle on the first-team All-Division I was teammate Connor Kamczyc and Avon Lake defensive back Jimmy Hessel. Elyria’s Dan Ratliff was a third-team selection, and Avon Lake’s Kyle Kuhar and Lorain’s Aaron Neal each received special mention.
Sprinkle felt a couple of his teammates besides Kamczyc and Ratliff were snubbed from the list.
“I feel personally that we had a lot of other guys that should have been on the list,” he said. “It’s a great thing knowing that my fellow friends Danny and Connor made it. I knew Connor had a great season also. He’s only a junior, too. So I feel he has a bright future. And a lot of our guys for our team have a bright future as well.”
cont...
When St. Thomas Aquinas takes the field Friday for its regional final against Boyd Anderson, the Raiders will be without Joey Bosa, one of their top defensive players and one of the nation's top recruits.
On Monday, Justin Harrison, the Florida High School Athletic Association's Assistant Executive Director for Athletic Services, confirmed via e-mail to the Sun Sentinel that Bosa, an Ohio State commit, will be suspended for one game after committing a flagrant personal foul late in St. Thomas' 38-7 regional semifinal win over Plantation.
St. Thomas Aquinas athletic director George Smith said the school is not planning to appeal the suspension.
Beech High junior Jalen Hurd had to get another suit to wear to Monday’s BlueCross Bowl Media Day in Murfreesboro.
It’s in that suit that he joined the list of Tennessee Titans Mr. Football winners, receiving the Class AAA Back honor and becoming the first Beech High School player to do so.
His mother, Tara Smotherman, said he had a suit from last year, but “unfortunately, it was a little small.”
Hurd said he didn’t have big expectations to win the award as a junior, but was all smiles once he was announced as the winner.
“It’s just unreal to be given this honor with all the great players who have won it before,” Hurd said. “My teammates deserve it just as much.”
Hurd was nominated along with Siegel quarterback Brent Stockstill and Whitehaven running back Mark Dodson, both seniors, for the award.
“It’s exciting to be up there with (Hurd),” Stockstill said. “He’s put up unreal numbers and he’s such a special talent. It’s fun being put in a class with (Hurd and Dodson), because they’ve both had awesome years.”
The Mr. Football award is considered to be a regular season award and voting took place before any postseason games were played. Dodson, an Ole Miss commitment, has rushed for 2,977 yards and 32 touchdowns through the semifinal round. Stockstill, a dual-threat quarterback, finished his season last week, ending with 2,697 yards and 32 touchdowns while also rushing for 650 yards and 10 scores.
cont...
Auburn has lost another high-prized commitment from Georgia.
Trey Johnson, a 4-star linebacker from Central Gwinnett High School, de-committed from Auburn on Tuesday, according to his coach.
“In talking with Trey and his dad, they feel like it’s time to de-commit because they don’t even know who Trey is committed to at Auburn (without a new coach hired),” Central Gwinnet coach Todd Wofford told the AJC.
“Trey wanted to be fair to himself, and to be fair to the schools that are recruiting him. It is two months away from signing day, and he’s not in a position where he can wait to see what coach Auburn may hire, what defense they may run, and things like that.
Johnson’s de-commitment doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Ever since Gene Chizik was frequently mentioned as being on the hotseat, Johnson had openly communicated with other colleges.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder went on an official visit this past weekend to Ohio State, which is rumored to be the new frontrunner. Urban Meyer visited Johnson at school two weeks ago.
When asked if Ohio State was Johnson’s leader, his coach said, “That was his first official visit, and Trey had a great time up there.”
The other top contenders are Florida, USC and Penn State. Johnson will take an official visit to Florida on Dec. 15 and to USC on Jan. 18. He is still working out a date with Penn State, and he may save his final visit for Auburn.
Auburn has had shaky relationship with Johnson since he committed to the Tigers two summers ago. A major factor in Johnson selecting Auburn was defensive coordinator Ted Roof, who was not retained after the 2011 season. Then Johnson built another connection with first-year defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, who was part of Chizik’s staff.
cont...
La Salle junior wide receiver Derek Kief has five early verbal scholarship offers and is regarded as one of the area’s top football players in the 2014 class.
Kief, who was named an Associated Press first-team all-district selection last week and special mention all-state on Monday, doesn’t need any extra promotion from recruiting sites, but he does have an organized website (derekkief.com) complete with video highlights, stats, quotes, a Twitter feed that tracks media coverage and other information to accompany him along his recruiting journey.
The website is operated by Kief’s uncle, Lance Hart, who gave Derek the site as a Christmas gift last year. Football is part of the family’s history and Hart decided he wanted chronicle Derek’s achievements as sort of a digital scrapbook.
Every post and tweet from the website is from Hart and he says Kief turns away from any extra attention about himself. Hart said Kief is real quiet and very confident in his skills, but let’s his football actions speak on the field.
Hart, a West Side resident who is director of voice implementation services at CBTS, says he tracks the website traffic through Google analytics and notes the spike in numbers after Kief receives an offer. He said some college fans are attentive to the site than the others. “Michigan guys are crazy,” he said in a good-natured way about the fan base.
Hart doesn’t have an added interest in mind for creating a website for other student-athletes nor is he seeking financial gain, but would rather have a keepsake for the family, saying it will provide a “time capsule of data” for Kief and his children one day.
And who could argue with that.
The Tuesday hire of Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops as the University of Kentucky’s new head football coach is good news for the Wildcats’ recruiting efforts, according to high school prospects and coaches.
Stoops received positive reviews, including from some of UK’s 14 Class of 2013 commitments who were reached for interviews, as an assistant from a powerhouse program and a member of a famous coaching family.
Stoops’ ability to recruit in talent-rich Florida could be critical to the Cats’ chances of moving up in the Southeastern Conference.
Miami Central High School coach Telly Lockette said Stoops was a primary recruiter at his school while on his brother Mike’s staff at Arizona and had previously built recruiting ties in South Florida while an assistant at the University of Miami.
Since he’s been at FSU, he’s made occasional stops by Central, and Lockette said he also enjoyed talking with Stoops at the Seminoles’ football camps.
“I think it’s a tremendous job (by UK) bringing in a guy who has been at Miami and Florida State, so he knows the state,” Lockette said. “That’s not to say Joker Phillips didn’t know the state, but I think he’ll do an excellent job.”
Lockette said he wouldn’t be surprised if Stoops’ new staff comes to check out players soon at Central, which produced former UK running back Brandon Gainer. Three-star defensive back Da’wan Hunte, who has been committed to North Carolina State, is reexamining his recruitment after the Wolfpack fired its coach.
cont...
Ohio State's relationship with Sam Mustipher continues to grow.
When he was just a freshman, the junior offensive guard from Olney (Md.) Good Counsel received one of his first scholarship offers from the Buckeyes, along with offers from Tulane, Illinois and North Carolina State.
"It was definitely humbling," Mustipher said of the early interest. "I knew going into this high school I would be surrounded by some talented guys.
Ohio State’s full-court press for Da’Shawn Hand (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) continued Tuesday when assistant coach Zach Smith popped into the ESPN Watch List junior’s school to check in on the 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive end.
The visit came on the heels of Hand’s unofficial visit to Columbus on Saturday, where he saw the Buckeyes complete an undefeated season with a 26-21 win over Michigan.
“He asked if I enjoyed the visit and what I thought of the game,” Hand said. “The visit shows they really care."
Kentucky's hiring of Mark Stoops could potentially shake up Ryan Timmons' recruitment.
For weeks, it has seemed likely that the No. 2-rated undecided prospect in Kentucky would end up at Ohio State. He has visited Columbus often and will take an official visit to Ohio State in January so his mother can see the school. Stoops' hiring, however, has Timmons intrigued.
"Good," the four-star prospect from Frankfort (Ky.) Franklin said when asked what he thought about the hiring. "Glad it's over. [I'll] try and get ahold of him."
Two days after the announcement that Auburn had fired head coach Gene Chizik, the Tigers have lost their second commitment in the 2013 class. According to Central Gwinnett head coach Todd Wofford, ESPN 150 linebacker Trey Johnson (Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinnett) is reopening his recruitment.
"Trey is going to decommit from Auburn today," Wofford said. "Trey wants to be fair to himself and to the teams that he has interest in. He isn't going to address Auburn until they name a coach."
Johnson took his first official visit over the weekend to Ohio State. Upon his return, he did not want to discussion the situation at Auburn.
There were no new commitments following Ohio State’s 26-21 win over Michigan on Saturday, but there were recruits being swayed as much as the flag poles atop The Horseshoe.
After combing over more than 20 storylines from the top-notch recruits attending the game, BuckeyeNation has come up with a top five:
1. Visit brings Ohio State closer for Quick: James Quick almost got caught up in the excitement. Then, he thought better of committing to Ohio State during his official visit. “I had a few times where I thought it was the place for me,” the ESPN 150 receiver from Louisville (Ky.) Trinity said as he and his family drove home on Monday. “But I have to look at other places to make sure I’m making the right decision for me.” Quick is rated the No. 10 receiver in the country and No. 98 prospect overall. “It was fun,” the four-star prospect said of the Columbus visit. “I enjoyed myself." -- Dave Hooker
I hate it when a recruit says they're 100% committed, but someone else is in the mix...then you're not 100% committed, are you?
I like to call it "The Urban Paradigm".
They should just say 99.9% committed.
Yeah, as Peter Griffin would say, "You know what grinds my gears?" and then would rant on about this.
Athletes and musicians can break the 100% barrier.
I clicked on it... I regretted it immediately...
Bosa cheap shotting? Not what I like to see. N did we miss on shane jones from moeller seems like a beast
O'Deez330
stark county football
If you watch his film, his cheap shot should not come as a surprise to you. At least, it didn't surprise me, at all.
Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler
I agree, kid has a bit too much of a mean streak in him. He's a stud don't get me wrong, and I think he could do great things here. He just needs to learn a little self control. A few hours with Coach Mick after some unacceptable behavior should do the trick
Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite
Kid's a victim of what I like to call the defensive double standard. Put Bosa's tape and a guy like Kyle Kalis' HS tape in separate threads in the same forum. Both are great prospects, both have a bit of a mean streak and will hit after the whistle/knock people out/etc.
When an OL take cheap shots at guys or brutally hits late, he's "playing through the whistle". When a DL or LB does the same thing, he's "dirty".
It's something that I've noticed a lot over the past year, and it doesn't make a while lot of sense
I agree with this to an extent. Although, after looking at some of Bosa and Mitchell's film, they definitely go for a few late hits/cheap shots that really aren't needed, especially in regards to Mike Mitchell. Joey O'Connor was the same way, he'd have a few hits that were not needed at all in some of his film. It's alright to be mean, but there's no need to for a few of the punk hits.
Lewan doesn't play through the whistle, he's just plain dirty!
I wouldn't call Lewan dirty. Inconsistent, yes. Overrated, perhaps. Inferior to our freshman DEs, probably. But not dirty.
No, he is dirty. Plain and simple.
I like Bosa to be 'nasty' as long as its during the play and legal. The OSU staff can train him to correctly channel that nastiness.
"Get him a body bag, Yeah!"
I can't wait till he cheap shots your beloved Shane Morris...I won't cry like you will;-)
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987
Hail, did it surprise you that OSU rushed the field after beating the walmart wolverines? lol
Did anyone downvoting Hail consider that this wasn't a bash on OSU? Like maybe he's actually watched the flm and noticed that he always gives a little extra after a play is over? I haven't watched any tape so I don't know but people seem a little sensitive to perceived slight. I didn't read anything negative about OSU from his comment.
^ Smart man.
^ Handsome man?
^ Well, I am Lank Thompson, handsome man...and you can be a handsome man, too.
If you think about the long leash these kids are given as high schoolers, I'm sure these hits and action after the whistle go on both in practice and games, where they get little intervening officiating and little resistance from overmatched opponents. One practice against D1 offensive linemen with Buckeye coaches putting you under the microscope and that chippy crap should be fixed.
Of course, if you're Ndmaukong Suh....
ironic you mention kids saying they're 100% committed. Tony Stevens (FSU WR Commit) just said he's not committed anywhere. takes an OSU official in a couple weeks and has an in-home visit with staff coming up
born and raised in Cleveland
happy to see mikey mitchell scheduled. just a matter of time.. muah-hahaha
I like football
@ODEEZ330- I think Shane Jones is a beast. I wish we would of went after him. MSU got a stud
#Buckeyes
Thanks man .me too I'm gonna try to make it to the st title game n check him out vs that whitmer spread
O'Deez330
stark county football
*** LB Trey Johnson decommits from Auburn today ***
I 2nd that
I wonder if Mike Mitchell can bring his lil bro on his visit
"You win with people." - Woody Hayes
I hope so, his lil bro is an ANIMAL at basketball from the highlights I've seen.
It's expected that whoever gets Mike will get Mickey as well.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
This could be good, especially with basketball in full swing. Thad and the team have a game on 12/8, so maybe the Mitchell clan could go to the game.
Updated
is timmons being told to hang on bcuz of stevens? or is it bcuz of quick and gibson?
mark may wins douchebag of the year... again
I think mainly Quick & Gibson
With a name like that, he sure takes his sweet time making a decision
Gareon Conley has decommited from Michigan
Also says Oregon has stopped recruiting him. Buckeye?
He made the smart move and decommitted before taking officials so he wouldn't lose his offer from UM. Not predicting it, but don't be surprised if he ends up back there
I read that a tweet from a recruiting analyst yesterday that said he asked Conley which schools he was still interested in and Conley only named OSU... Good sign for the Buckeyes.
the Walmart Wolverines take another L with Gareon Conley decommitting...muahaha
Whats the time table of a Trey Johnson commit?
Good question. There was talk that he would be taking more visits prior to making his decision, but I don't know.
Trey Johnson will be a Buckeye todays news was no surprise.
Edit: from others that know and predict these things Mitchell has been re-confirmed as a Buckeye and Conley is a Buckeye as well. Also Trey Johnson is taking what could have been Skai Moore's spot weeks ago but the official last weekend clinched it. Hearing we also got 2 silent verbals from 2014 class as well but wont be announced till end of this signing period in all likelihood. Lastly those in the know would also be shocked if Quick isnt a Buckeye as well JT Barrett did work on him apparently.
Where did you hear about the 2 silent verbals from?
Everything else I've read about too!
Updated
I heard Tony Stevens is undecided.
Bill Green said on tweeter that Shazier will play at 235 next year.
mike?
"There is a force that makes us all brothers, no one goes his way alone, all that we send into the life of others comes back into our own." -WWH
Msu is in running for Munger.
was watching Mitchell's highlight film... didn't realize the kid returns kicks too! He truly is a physical beast (6'4/6'5, rivals says he runs a 4.39 40) and really versatile - I can't wait to see him as a Buckeye!
Yeah, Mitchell does it all. LB, RB, KR. If I remember correctly, even at 6'4" he runs right about a 4.4 40. Apparently he's somewhat new to the LB position, so he's still wrapping his mind around it (which might be why he isn't ranked EVEN HIGHER than the #3rd to 8th best OLB in the country). But he has the PERFECT athletic gifts for the OLB position within the style of defense you expect from an Urban Meyer team (ala Florida's during their 2nd championship run).
He's by far the player I'm most excited about in 2013.
I totally agree that Mitchell is best suited for OLB, or even Viper, but he wants to play the MIKE and is being recruited as such. Shame really, especially since OLB is what he'll be playing if he goes to the NFL.
"Paralyze resistance with persistence." -Woody Hayes
A post said this earlier, but basically we have just gotten a few commitments, it is just a matter of when not if. I am not so sure about Quick though. Looks like we stole a few more commitments this year (an hopefully one from scUM will announce that he is a Buckeye soon)!!!
F--- Michigan!
Anyone know Mitchells Stats this year? team record? ETC...
Capn, Make It So...
Final
Arkansas going after LSU's Les Miles. The Razorbacks offered him a contract: five years, $27.5 million. Not sure how serious the discussions are but they're having some at least, not sure why he'd want to leave LSU for Arkansas.
No way he leaves to coach their rival. "home is where you make it....everyone knows that.... goddamn boy."
Dustin Fox was our leading tackler as a corner.... because his guy always caught the ball.
Does the name Pitino come to mind?
Yeah, but Pitino did that after quite a few years in the NBA. He didn't leave strait from UK to Louisville. I can't see Miles leaving LSU for an inferior job.
The coach builds the program, so he could turn an inferior job into a superior job. $5 million a year is hard to turn down. I bet Miles is considering it in his head.
I just don't think he'll be able to attract the same level of talent at Arkansas that he does at LSU, because LSU will certainly hire a monster coach to replace him. I think Arkansas believes t hey are a bigger deal than they really are is all. LSU is a major brand in college football now, they were huge before Miles and will be after. Arkansas' recent history of success included a couple years with Mc Fadden and a good year with Bobby Petrino.
Is there a chance we get a commitment today from Johnson during his in-home visit? I'd like to see a gray box sometime soon after the ridiculous recruit turn out for The Game.
I second the notion of seeing some gray boxes soon. Slightly wierd sentence...
Unlikely we see one for Trey, he has said multiple times he plans to take all his visits. I certainly believe we are in the driver's seat, and I imagine he will be a Buckeye sometime in late december early January (perhaps at an AA game?)
Gray box I think we could see in the near future (December 7) is Mike Mitchell. Has us on top over every other school he has visited, and he hasn't even visited here.
Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite
what im excited for is hopefully in some of these all american games. like under armour and army game. when the kids have their hats and make their pick, some go to the buckeyes. for too long have i gotten annoyed that they all go to SEC schools. revolution!
Normally I don't care for the whole hat thing, but with the bowl ban this year it's one thing that will keep Block O on the minds of the next group of freshman and sophomore blue chippers.
You may continue the discussion in the thread that just opened up, thanks guys